ADOT revenues down

Phoenix, AZ – The state department of transportation relies largely on twosources of revenue for its operations: Gasoline taxes and vehiclelicense fees. But ADOT's Doug Nintzel said the economy hasresulted in people driving less. New car sales are down,shrinking vehicle registration fees. And the cars Arizonans arebuying and driving are more fuel efficient. He said a dozen MVDoffices where people can get licensed to drive and register theirvehicles will be shuttered, at least for the time being. Whichwill be closed is yet to be determined.

(We've undertaken a review of facility and security issues, ofproximity to other MVD locations, and even the availability ofthird-party enterprises. Those are businesses that actuallydispense MVD services as well.)

What already has been decided is that ADOT is closing 13 of its18 rest areas around the state, including four on I-10, three onI-40 and one each on Interstates 8, 17 and 19. But Nintzel saidhis agency is trying to partner with nearby businesses to lettravelers stop and use the rest rooms free of charge. For ArizonaPublic Radio this is Howard Fischer.